The title gives it away. I apologize if this has already been asked but I couldn't find it. I hear some people say that 500 yards is not long range and while others say 300 yards is plenty. It's not for a rifle or anything, but it's just something that has always floated in my head.

texaswoodworker

02-13-2014 08:57 PM

I don't recall there ever being a set rule on what is and isn't long range, so it's pretty subjective.

Long range for a shotgun, handgun, and long gun are all different. With a handgun, one might consider anything past 25-50 yards to be long range. For a rifle, this is close range. 100-300 yards seems to be the average range people shoot at (depending on the type of rifle, and it's caliber), So I'd personally consider anything past 300-400 yards to be getting into the longer ranges. Once you past 500 yards, your really getting out there.

jpattersonnh

02-13-2014 09:39 PM

As Tex said, it is subjective. Long range and effective range are or can be very different depending on caliber. In .44-40, which is an old black powder rifle round has an effective range on whitetail of about 80 yards, but it is accurate to 150 yards or so. Effective range changes when you talk about different game. I shoot 6.5x55 quite a bit. It is easily a 500 yard coyote gun w/ 129gr bullets, but make it a man sized target and that goes out to 800 yards. On game like elk, 300 yards is max for a 140gr in 6.5, it sheds to much energy after that. Now, all this is hypothetical if you can't hit the vitals. The best shooters I have seen are p-dog or woodchuck hunters. I forgot Squirrels, tree variety. Shooting a tree rat at 35 yards with a .22lr is not so easy. Woodchucks w/ a .22lr at 75yards is pretty good, a woodchuck at 300 yards with a .223 is VG, a p-dog at 300 yards w/ a .223 is about perfect. I like shooting reactive targets at distance.

therewolf

02-13-2014 10:04 PM

JMHO, it depends what you shoot, and where.

For the average person who doesn't have access to

private property, and must use the average public

range, 200 yards is "long range".

50 yards is "long range" for a pistol, generally,

unless you get a good scoped one. Then 75 yards

is plinking distance.

Personally, I consider accuracy at 200 yards mighty

fine shooting, but I'm blind in one eye, and can't see out

of the other...

JonM

02-13-2014 11:21 PM

for the nypd its about 6 inches...

Axxe55

02-13-2014 11:36 PM

a lot depends on the gun being used and the person doing the shooting. depends on whether we are discussing target shooting or hunting.

as said, i think it is subjective and everyone might have a different opinion on what they consider long range shooting their prefered choice of firearms.

jpattersonnh

02-13-2014 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonM
(Post 1506030)

for the nypd its about 6 inches...

Jon, I had and 2 uncles and brothers father in law that were NYPD. They had to qualify once a year at 7 yards. Clean the revolver and put it in the holster till next year. My Uncle Bill on my moms side was not a guy you would want to mess with. 6'5" 270lb, an ex frogman from WWII. My uncle Bill on my Dads side was also a big guy, but worked at 1 Police Plaza for 20 years. They notified him he would have to go back to a precinct and do a beat again, he retired at 57, also a WWII vet. He was on a crash boat in the north sea and the channel.

buckhorn_cortez

02-14-2014 12:45 AM

The gun club I belong to has a steel target range with targets at 200, 400, 600, 800, and 818 meters. The 200 through 600 are relatively easy with a precision rifle. The 800 & 818 meter targets are 18-inch torsos and wind drift is the problem as it can change over the entire distance shot-to-shot.

I use a .308 and the 818 meter target is a reach for that round. At some point, you're distance limited by the performance of the round no matter how accurate the rifle.

762

02-14-2014 12:47 AM

400 yards and up for a rifle is long range to me

JonM

02-14-2014 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpattersonnh
(Post 1506052)

Jon, I had and 2 uncles and brothers father in law that were NYPD. They had to qualify once a year at 7 yards. Clean the revolver and put it in the holster till next year. My Uncle Bill on my moms side was not a guy you would want to mess with. 6'5" 270lb, an ex frogman from WWII. My uncle Bill on my Dads side was also a big guy, but worked at 1 Police Plaza for 20 years. They notified him he would have to go back to a precinct and do a beat again, he retired at 57, also a WWII vet. He was on a crash boat in the north sea and the channel.

When you gotta explain the joke it loses a lot... :(

I was referring to the recent incidents of the nypd firing dozens and dozens of shots in several incidents never hitting the goblin...